Pure Genius
Season 1 M-Net Sat (*101) 19:30 Drama
Hospital drama Pure Genius (2016-2017) is like Grey’s Anatomy (2005-current) on steroids and with loads of technology thrown into the mix. The single-season show follows specialists at the Bunker Hill medical facility and their tech-guru leader James Bell (Augustus Prew). And while it’s not said outright, James has been likened to SA-born technology wizard Elon Musk, who is currently revolutionising space exploration and electric cars. But there’s a difference – Elon isn’t dying from what’s meant to be an incurable disease… James is!
He has been diagnosed with reallife neurological condition G erst mannSträussl er-Sc he ink er syndrome (GSS) and executive producer Jason Katims says that “the idea of combining technology and medicine was something intriguing from the beginning. But [like James], it was also personal motivation because when my father and wife fell ill at the same time, it renewed my respect and admiration for doctors and how much they cared and fought for patients”.
But what would a hero like James be without a sidekick? He invites surgeon Dr Wallace (Dermot Mulroney) to visit and have a 3D action figure of himself made, planning from the start to convince Wallace to join as chief of surgery. Wallace was suspended at his previous job for using an unapproved drug on a dying patient and it’s that spirit that James wants leading his team. And like Grey’s, there’s workplace romance that leads to inter-team drama, but the real star is technology. While some is purely for TV, a lot is being used in the medical world. iPad tablets are replacing paper charts, 3D printing is used to recreate bones and organs like hearts, and processes take hours instead of days, making Pure Genius a fun watch for fans of medical dramas and sci-fi alike.